The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-07-30
Brushing DOwn Webs and Disturbing
The Spiders.



Brushing down cobwcbs is not
just the most delightful work in the
world, but it is often necessary. 1t
seems cruel to the poor insect that
spins them, but if spiders viii not
be discreet about the choice of points
on which to hang their fabrics, they
must not complain they suffer loss.
The opponents of Prohibition
have turned 10 spinning some very
fine theories to support their bust
ness of catching human flies. We
propose to make one brush mt some
little webs which they have been
holding up to the sun lately with
evident delight
They have been saying that it is
confession Of weakness upon the part
of Christianity when ii admits that it
can not make sober men without
the aid of the State law. These
gentlemen-for they are all gentle
men-profess great unwillingness
that Christian men should take
position so discreditable to the
strength Of their religion as that
which Prohibition implies.
We shall relieve them of their
anxiety by reminding them that
after all Il religion that can so con-
troll public opinion as to secure
majority for Prohibition is not so
weak as one might suppose. 1t is
strong enough to make men sober
and close the saloons besides. Speak
ing in figure, this remedy is not
only strong enough to cure the
patient if his system can take it, but
it is also strong enough to put the
patient in Il condition to be most
benefited by it. There is small rea-
son for these nice gentlemen to be
bewailing the fact that has lost its
virtue.
Some Of the preachers occasionally
betray little fear that Christianity
will not have fair chance under
Prohibition to display its power to
make men sober. Now, if the dear
brethren are anxious for til, ir rclig-
ion to do exploits. suppose the in
woke its aid to make men vote ON
the right side in the temperance
campaign Mean voting is about rs
bad as drinking whisky, Try the
power Of the gospel to influence men
to vote like Christians. Tell them
that when a man prays, lead me
not into temptation" he can not, us
a Christian, vote to license bust
ness which can not prosper except
as it leads him or Others into temp
tation. Tell them to vote as they
pray, and to be careful how they
pray.
Another fine spun theory is that
temptation is necessary to develop
character, and that the noblest char
acter is not that which is removed
from temptation, but that which
overcomcs it; therefore let lis have
open saloons, that we may attain to
the noblest types of sobricty. Just
so. All Of which implies that temp
tatlon Is Il means Of grace, and the
tenptcr is a minister of salvation.
1t is a new view of education which
proposes that God shall have the
children Of the kingdom developed
Ill gymnasium run by the devil
Perhaps it will yet be found needful
for every Church to own and run a
saloon in order to test and temper
the power of the bibulous-inclined
brethren to resist solicitations to
drink. OF course these sanctifed
temptation shops will be opened
every morning with prayer, and We
suggest in advance that they be sup
piled with some sort of device to
measure the force Of the temptation
administered, lest some feeble saint
be overcome by the exercise designed
to inyigorate his moral resolution
Il sort Of religiometer as it were.
Having finished the task we set
ourselves to accomplish, before We
hang up our brush we desire to say
for the benefit of the by ISLANDERS
that there are many men who can
not tell the difference between a
pretext and "A principle
Women never know when they